As we consider the condition of the world today, how can we not pray? That should be the question for God’s people.
Bible Verses about Prayer
When we consider just even the following six verses on prayer, we should find ourselves making prayer our first response. We will turn to the Lord first before complaining or giving in to fear or despair. And, we will continue in prayer regardless of the circumstances.
Order the Prayer Bits: Small Bits But Big Truths on Prayer Devotional Guide which uses these six verses. Each of the 30 devotions contains a small bit about prayer based on one of the verses but conveys big truths that make a difference.
As you reflect on the verses, you’ll find some helpful tips about praying.
- Be devoted to prayer. When devoted to prayer, things happen. Pray and then watch for what God will do. And, be sure to thank and praise Him for it.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Col. 4:2)
- Be willing to sacrifice in order to pray. The psalmist likens prayer to a spiritual sacrifice when he refers to it as incense. As such it rises up to heaven and fills the throne room of God.
“May my prayer be set before you like incense.” (Ps. 141:2a)
- Fully trust God as you pray. If you feel safe and secure with Him, such confidence will take you beyond the rote or token prayers to spilling out your guts to God.
“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Selah.” (Ps. 62:8)
- Be in a constant attitude of prayer, praying for fellow believers everywhere. To have such a perseverance and passion in praying, you need help. Look to the Spirit of God who lives within you.
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Eph. 6:18)
- Go on the offence as a prayer warrior. You cannot be pulled in so many directions that you fail to pray. Instead, purposefully plan to pray. Prioritize it into your busy schedule.
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so you can pray.” (1 Pet. 4:7)
- Don’t get discouraged if you can’t see results. Notice the small but encouraging word “is” in the following verse. Your prayer “is” effective — present tense. It doesn’t say might be or will be but “is,” right now, powerful and effective.
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b)
In Light of These Scripture Verses, How Can We Not Pray?
As the truths in the above verse take root in our hearts and we put them into practice, we will begin to notice the following differences in our lives:
1) how we pray
We will no longer ask ourselves the question, “To pray or not to pray?” as we will see no other option. We will pray when happy or when sad, when confident or fearful, when full of faith or feeling uncertain. We will pray when faced with challenges or going through the routines of life.
2) how we process life
Even if the world around us doesn’t change as we wish it would, we’ll still be able to cope and find peace. We will gain a renewed purpose as we work in cooperation with a Sovereign and Almighty God through prayer.
Thank you for these articles on prayer. If I had no knowledge about prayer, where would you start to open me to understanding the principles of prayer and how to prayer and expect answers from God?
Hello, Jeannette. To open ourselves to principles of prayer, it’s important to get a better grasp of the God to whom we pray. The more we understand His character and ways, the more likely we’ll be to align with biblical principles about praying. See: Praying on God’s Terms, According to Biblical Principles and Prayer That Reflects Who God Is – So, start with getting to know God better. A helpful resource for that could be: Our Great God from A to Z Discipleship Tool (That resource isn’t about prayer but is mentioned as a tool to get to know God better.)
As we grow in our relationship with God, we’ll tend to find ourselves wanting to commune with Him more and more. See: Prayer Ministry an Outgrowth of Relationship – Also, as we grow in our relationship with God, we’ll find ourselves relying on Him more and more. That will even filter into how we pray. See: Effective Prayer Ministry Depends on the Power of God to Pray
It’s difficult to give a step by step plan for how to pray as so much of effective praying simply grows out of our relationship with Him. Psalm 62:8 refers to pouring out of hearts to the Lord. That’s the kind of prayer God looks for. It’s not about following a pattern in praying or eloquent words but rather speaking genuinely to Him with a heart of love and trust. See: What’s Important in Prayer – The Prayer Bits: Small Bits But Big Truths on Prayer Devotional Guide could be useful for reflecting on some key Bible verses about praying.
As to answers to prayer, it’s important for someone with little knowledge of prayer to understand that God does answer prayer but it’s not always with “yes”. Sometimes He answers “no” or “not yet” because His main desire is to give what’s best for us. Luke 11:9-13 emphasizes that God is out for our good, not just to make us happy. See: Who God Is Affects How God Answers Prayer and How God Answers Prayer
I hope the above thoughts give you a starting point.